Michelin’s return as a tire supplier to Formula One is partly dependent on competition from rival companies, a spokesman told Racing Engineering.
Bridgestone’s F1 contract will run out at the end of the season, leaving the category without a confirmed tire provider for 2011. Michelin has expressed interest in returning, but a deal appears to rest on a number of conditions. Reports suggest the French company wants to be paid by the teams for its tire supply and it has now confirmed competition is another of its provisions.
“We are interested in it but it must be right, who knows what will happen,” a Michelin spokesperson told Racing Engineering. “Certain things have to be done, we must have competition, and we do not want to be the only supplier.”
The spokesperson also confirmed Michelin wants F1 tires to be more relevant to its road-going products and those used in sports car racing. This is likely to take the form of low-profile tires mounted on 18-inch wheels.
“Also we need to be able to use the opportunity of competition to improve our tire technology. For example, our new Pilot 3 road tires had technology developed for Le Mans in them. We need this from Formula One. Finally, it must have the possibility to improve the greenness, perhaps we would like something like the Green X Challenge in F1 something to help ecology.”
Michelin was last in F1 from 2001 to 2006 during a period of fierce competition with Bridgestone. Kumho and Hankook have also reportedly expressed interest in F1 in 2011.
